National Republican., 1887-02-07
The Blair Bill.

The Blair education bill which was re.
ferred last week to the House committee on
rules, 10 still under consideration OF the five
members to whom 1t was submitted, Messrs.
Hiscock, Reed, Carlisle, Randall, and Nor
rison. 1t may be well, just at the present
time, to call attention OF those who are
wavering upon this great subject to the
opinion Of the state superintendent In Mary
land, who is familiar with the facts, aud
who thoroughly understands the require
ments Of the southern states:
Mr.. Chairman and gentleman, / am not
here to-day TO make any special plea In be-
half of Maryland. We think that In n small
way and in the course of time we shall be
able TO take care Of our own people in the way
ofeducaion. / am here to show that. so far
as Maryland is concerned, we are In abso-
Lutte accord with the gentlemen who have al.
ready addressed you. We look upon ignor.
aucc not as local but as national question,
and VIC consider II as much or nearly rs much
of an evil TO have ignorance in Florida or
Georgia as 1t would be to have 1t in Maryland
or Pennsylvania. Yet think, Mr. Chairman,
though you and the gentlemen ofthe commit
tee .haye studied this question long aud
immense mass OF ignorance that is pressing
uTor us not only In the south but In the middle
states and in the north. can hardly bring
this more pointedly TO your notice than 10y
stating few simple facts with regard to my
own state.
have been at the head OF tho educational
department OF Maryland for fourteen years
successively, and therefore know all that l
om going to say of my personal knowl.
edge. We spend every year II million
and half dollars for common school educa-
tiOn. We keep our schools open IN most OF our
counties ten months in the year, in none of
The IN less than seven months and Il half, and
ali average OF nine months Of every year. Our
teachers are reasonably well paid: they are
properly selected, and ARE doing their work as
well as could be expected under the circun-
stances. All our surroundings are in favor of
education. The people believe in 1t for them
selves, and they believe in 1t for their neigh
Tors. And yet, Mr.. Chairman, after sixteen
years Of uniform state system, well supported,
tolerably well endowed the last census reports
$4,000 ilhtcrates in the little state of Mary
land. Now, sir, the argument is a JOHiori, If.
alter sixteen years Of hard and honest work,
we have not been able to wash out this black
stain Of ignorance, what chance have our
frier6s in South Carolina and In Georgia and
in Florida to deal with theirs?
Mr.. Chairman, l am old fashioned enough to
think s,ill that the state ought to do nothing
that the private individual can do as well, and
l am willing to carry 1t further, and to say
that the national government should do noth-
ing that the state government con do Us well
but all history ana all experience prove to us
that the individual is not able to educate his
childrcn he has never done 1t in the history
OF the world; the state must COME in and aid
him in the work, and / think we have proved
abundantly that in our southern states, at all
events, the state is not able to do the work of
education. Therefore, l say 1t is the duty and
the privilege or the national government to
come in and help the state to do that which
they are willing but not able to do.